Separation member return means for use in recirculating feeders

ABSTRACT

a recirculating feeder adapted to be coupled to a copier is set forth which employs a separator member that initially engages the top document sheet of a multi-sheet document in a tray and incrementally moves downwardly under the influence of gravity as individual document sheets are fed from the bottom of the multi-sheet document to the copier exposure platen and returned to the top of the multi-sheet document in the tray. After the sheet initially engaged by the separator member is fed, the separator member moves downwardly to be spaced from the tray and a motor control circuit is activated which energizes a motor. The energized motor drives the separator member towards return engagement with the top document sheet of the multi-sheet document in the tray. Prior to the separator member returning to such engagement, the control circuit de-energizes the motor and connects it to a dynamic brake circuit which retards the rotation of the motor and movement of the separator member to the extent that the separator member gently re-engages the top document sheet, and does not damage it.



